Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Why Does He Seem to Be... Avoiding Her?

Perhaps it was the medicine, but drowsiness came on quickly, and she went to rest early.

When Xie Jinbai returned, only a single, dim yellow candle was lit in the room.

He walked to the side of the bed and stared intently at the young woman sleeping soundly under the covers.

After a long moment, he unfastened the collar of his robe and went to the washroom.

Not long after, he emerged, still damp from his bath.

Half-asleep, Cui Lingyao felt a tightness around her waist.

His arm wrapped around her as he pressed his body against hers.

Their bodies touched.

It was very warm.

She was enveloped by his familiar scent.

Cui Lingyao’s eyelashes fluttered, and she was about to wake up.

Xie Jinbai kissed her eyelids and coaxed her in a low voice, "Go back to sleep. I won’t disturb you."

His voice was incredibly gentle. Cui Lingyao felt at ease and soon fell back into a deep sleep.

When she opened her eyes again, the sky outside was bright.

The spot beside her on the bed was cold. He had left at some unknown time.

After breakfast, a servant from the front courtyard came to report that the Marchioness Changping had arrived.

Her daughter had survived an assassination attempt. Although she had heard the details from her eldest son, her mother, Lady Zheng, still couldn’t be at ease. She had slept poorly all night and came personally first thing in the morning.

As soon as mother and daughter met, Lady Zheng’s eyes reddened at the sight of her daughter’s immobile left shoulder. "My dear child, you have truly suffered."

This was the girl she had raised so delicately, held in the palm of her hand. But after entering the Prince Mansion, she had fallen into the water, been attacked, and now her life was constantly in danger.

’How could I not worry?’

Cui Lingyao soothed her with a soft voice, "I’m fine. The bone has been set, and after a month or so of rest, it will be all right. But how is my sister-in-law?"

At this, Lady Zheng sighed faintly. "Your father specially summoned Doctor Chen. He’s a master of gynecology. Years ago, the Empress had a difficult birth and nearly died. It was Doctor Chen’s miraculous skill that ensured both mother and child were safe. With him here, your sister-in-law’s chances should be much better."

"..." Cui Lingyao opened her mouth, but in the end, said nothing.

Very few people knew that the Empress had delivered a stillborn child back then.

However, while the story of "both mother and child were safe" was nonsense, Doctor Chen’s reputation as a master of gynecology was well-earned.

She said, "I can only hope for the best."

Hearing this, Lady Zheng shed tears and said regretfully, "After taking her pulse this morning, Doctor Chen spoke privately with your brother. Your sister-in-law’s internal injuries are too severe. The medicine to treat them is potent and conflicts with the medicine to protect the pregnancy. I’m afraid the child can’t be saved."

To finally conceive after eight years of marriage would be a joyous event for any family.

No one expected that before they could even celebrate, tragedy would strike.

Grief welled up in Lady Zheng’s heart. "I have never done a wicked thing in my life. Why must both my children face such hardship with their heirs?"

’Will I ever be able to dote on grandchildren in this lifetime?’

Cui Lingyao’s heart ached.

She was just as concerned for the unborn nephew or niece in Xie Anning’s womb.

That was the child of her own brother.

A bloodline the Cui Family had awaited for eight years.

’How could it not be heartbreaking?’

Mother and daughter were immersed in their sorrow as time ticked by.

The sun was high in the sky when Xie Jinbai returned to the Prince Mansion.

The moment he entered, he asked for Cui Lingyao.

When he heard his mother-in-law was visiting and that the two had dismissed the servants to speak privately in the room, with sobs occasionally drifting out, his brows furrowed tightly.

After a moment of deep thought, Xie Jinbai stopped in his tracks and said, "If the Princess Consort asks, just say I haven’t returned yet."

With that, he turned and went into the study.

Leaving Li Yong standing there, completely stunned.

’Did I hear that right?’

’This has to be a first.’

’His master has always treated the Princess Consort like a precious jewel, wishing he could cradle her in the palm of his hand. And now he hears her crying with her mother and, instead of going in to comfort her, he’s... hiding?’

...

Cui Lingyao was rather late in discovering that Xie Jinbai was avoiding her.

For one, she was a bit slow on the uptake. Plus, he was indeed very busy, so it was normal for him to leave early and return late.

As a result, she hadn’t noticed a thing.

It wasn’t until the night of the seventh day, as she was leaning against the headboard reading a storybook, that she happened to glance at the deep darkness outside the window. With a jolt, she realized she hadn’t seen him in seven whole days.

During the day, he was nowhere to be seen.

At night, he would only return after she had fallen into a deep sleep.

By the time she opened her eyes, the space beside her was already empty.

Her shoulder was injured, so he couldn’t hold her properly as they slept. He would only drape his arm lightly over her waist. Most of the time, Cui Lingyao didn’t even sense his presence when he returned.

Seven whole days.

The two of them hadn’t exchanged a single word.

This had never happened before, not even during his most moody and unpredictable phase three years ago.

Cui Lingyao felt a knot of unease in her heart.

Even then, she didn’t think he was avoiding her.

She just thought, ’Is he really that busy?’

’So busy he can’t spare a single moment to check on his own wife’s injury?’

’So this is his professed deep love!’

The more Cui Lingyao thought about it, the more upset she became.

The night was deep, but she, who usually slept so well, couldn’t fall asleep.

The lamp in the inner chamber was extinguished.

Only a single candle in the outer room remained lit.

Its dim, warm light filtered through the screen.

Outside, the cold wind howled, and the faint sound of footsteps could be heard.

The door was gently pushed open.

As usual, Xie Jinbai rounded the screen and entered the inner chamber.

And then, he met a pair of bright, almond-shaped eyes.

He froze. "You’re not asleep yet?"

’...What does he mean by that?’

Cui Lingyao’s brow furrowed. She keenly sensed something was off. "Were you hoping I’d be asleep?"

"No," Xie Jinbai coughed softly. "I’m going to bathe first."

With that, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

Cui Lingyao watched him go, her brow furrowed tightly.

They hadn’t spoken properly in so many days. She had waited up for him tonight, yet he showed no sign of pleasure.

No matter how she thought about it, something felt wrong.

’It’s as if he’s... avoiding her?’

Avoiding her.

Cui Lingyao’s brow twitched, and all her drowsiness vanished completely.

When Xie Jinbai finally emerged from the washroom, dawdling, he saw that she was now sitting up straight on the bed.

Hearing the sound, she turned to look at him.

Her gaze fixed on him.

Clearly, she was waiting for him.

Xie Jinbai’s eyes flickered slightly, but his expression remained unchanged as he walked over, lifted the covers, got into bed, and wrapped an arm around her. "What’s wrong?"

He asked what was wrong.

Cui Lingyao didn’t know what was wrong either.

She couldn’t very well demand to know why he was so busy that he’d disappeared for days without a single word of concern about her injury.

Nor could she say, ’I fought off sleep just to wait for you tonight, so why don’t you look happy to see me?’

Saying something like that would make it seem like she cared about him too much.

Cui Lingyao pursed her lips for a long moment before finally forcing out a question: "The assassins... have you found out who was behind it?"

"You waited up for me just to ask about that?"

Xie Jinbai chuckled and helped her lie back down. "The masterminds are the usual suspects. None of them will escape. As for Xie Anning... she had nothing to do with it."

He gave her a brief summary of the situation.

The incident with the crazed horse was a plot by Prince Ping, who risked his own daughter’s life for personal gain.

He was afraid his married daughter was no longer loyal to him and would leak the plan, so he didn’t even give her a word of warning beforehand.

He simply tampered with the horse directly.

Xie Anning still doesn’t know the truth.

Her pregnancy is precarious, and she cannot handle any shocks.

No one dares to tell her.

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